That night, the Hollow attacked.
Masked figures poured into the mountain sanctuary, their cloaks inky black, moving without sound. They wielded silver blades that shimmered strangely.
Seraphine raised her staff. "Run!"
Liora grabbed Jalen's hand, and together they sprinted into the tunnels. Cries echoed behind them , Seraphine fighting, spells crackling like fire in the dark.
At the tunnel's end, the earth split open… revealing the edge of Everspring's woods.
They were home again but everything had changed.